Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 643,746. Patented Feb. 20, I900. I L. R. LE LANDE.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Appiication filed. Feb. 26. 1899.)

(No Model.)

mlnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER R. LE LANDE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,746, dated February20, 1900.

Application filed February 28,1899. Serial No. 707,200. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LESTER R. LE LANDE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Los An geles, State of California,have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas-machines in which gas isgenerated from water and calcium carbid; and the objects of myimprovement are, first, to provide a machine in which gas will beautomatically generated in small quantities at a time and as fast asrequired for use; second, to provide a machine in which only a limitedquantity of water at a time can be brought in contact with the carbid,and, third, to provide a machine of simple construction which canwithout danger be charged with a large amount of carbid and which can beeasily cleaned. I accomplish these objects by the mechanism describedherein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a vertical section of the entire machine with only one generator, thepipes being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one ofmy carbid-trays. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views in section of parts ofmy valve. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. 6 is an elevation of amachine having two generators G and G.

A is the gas-holder, having a pipe A to let the air into and out of theholder when desired, which telescopes in the water-tank B. It is guidedin its rise and fall by rods a and a, which are rigidly affixed to tank13. A small auxiliary water-tank O is affixed to the tank B and connectstherewith by aperture 6. The water-service pipe D, having cock D,through which water is supplied to the machine, terminates in the tank0, and the admission of water therethrough is automatically regulated bythe ball-cock E. The tank 0 may be dispensed with and the service-pipe Dbe led direct into tank B and the admission of water therethroughautomatically controlled by the ball-cock E. The gas is led byservice-pipe F from the gas-holder to the place of use. A waste-pipe F,having cook f, is connected thereto to draw off the moisture whichcollects in the pipe F.

G is the generator in which the gas is made.

The generator G is preferably constructed as follows:

The body is annular and has double walls 1 2, between which is a spacewhich when filled with water forms a water-jacket 3 around the innerwall and aids in keeping the generator coolwhen gas is being generatedtherein.

4 is the cover, having flange 5, which projects into the water-space 3,and thereby makes a water seal between the body and cover. A small pipe23, having cook 24, passes through the cover to allow the air to pass inand out when the cover is removed or put on. The cover is removablyaffixed to the body by clips 6, which pass over lugs affixed to thecover and body, respectively. The cover is preferably constructed so asto have a waterholding pan 7' in the top, sothat water may be placedtherein to assist in keeping down the temperature in the generator whengas is being generated therein. This feature of the cover may beomitted. To the cover is attached a handle 8 for convenience inhandling.

9 is the opening into pan 7 through which the water is poured.

10 is a waste-pipe having cook 11 thereon leading from the inside of thebody of the generator to permit of the water being drawn ofi when thegenerator is cleaned. 12 is a similar pipe leading from the water-jacket3 for a like purpose.

13 is a pipe having cock 2O connecting the interior of the generatorwith the water-tank B, which is used only in case the ordinarywater-supply mechanism needs repairing. When more than one generator isused, it has branches running to each generator, as shown in Fig. 6.

H is a pipe leading from just above the'carbid in the generator to thegas-holder, having check-valve H, and terminates just above thewater-line in the tank B.

I is an escape-pipe connected to pipe H and has cock I, through whichthe moisture which collects in pipe H is drawn off. To the top 7 of pipeH is attached a short flexible tube J,

preferably made of rubber, the free end of which passes through a pieceof buoyant material K, preferably cork, which retains the outlet of thetube J submerged at a given depth and always automatically keeps itsubmerged at such depth in order that the gas may be cooled and washed.

L is the tray for holding the carbid. (Shown in detail-in Fig. 2.) It ispreferably divided into compartments, fits within the inner wall of thebody of the generator, is open at the top, and is water-tight, exceptopenings Z through the side into the first of the compartments. Thepartitions m m m, which divide the tray L into compartments, haveperforations it near the top thereof. The partition 911" has noperforations. The trays L preferably surround the pipe H and reachalmost to the cover of the generator, as shown in Fig. 1.

O is a pipe having cock 17 and leads from the tank P to the bottom ofthe interior of the generator G, through which water is supplied to thecarbid in the generator. Vhen more than one generator is used, it hasbranches running to each generator, as shown in Fig. 6, each branchbeing controlled by a cook. The tank P should hold a supply of watersufficient to generate into gas the carbid held by two of the trays L.In the bottom of the tank P is located the valve R, which controls theadmission of the water from tank B into tank P and from tank P intogenerator G. This valve is so constructed that in its normal position itpresents an open way for the water to pass from the tank B into tank P,connection being made from tank B to aperture s of cylinder R by pipe V,and when operated by the fall of the gas-holder A the way between tanksB and P will be first closed and an open way then made between tank Pand generator G. The valve R con sists of a. hollow cylinder R, closedat the ends, having apertures r, r, and r, and an outer cylinder R,having apertures s, s, and s. The pipe 0 is connected to the outercylinder B so that the aperture 8 registers with the interior thereof.One end of cylinder R projects through the end of tank P, and around theprojecting end of cylinder R is removably atfixed by screw 6 a collar S,having a stem T connected to one end of the rod T, the other end of thestem T carrying the weight U.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a machine having two generators. It is moreconvenient to have a reserve supply of carbid that can be used while thefirst generatoris being cleaned, and for that reason it is preferable tohave two generators. When a second generator is used, they are connectedtogether by a by-pass 14, havingcocks 15 and 16, and the pipe 13, havingcock 20,is connected to such by-pass. The by-pass 14 is connected to theinterior of each generator at the bottom, and the top of the bypass ison a level with the top of the tray L in the generator. The pipe 0 hastwo branches, one running to each generator, and is provided with cocks17, 18, and 19.

My machine having two generators G and G is operated as follows: Thetrays L are filled with carbid and placed in the generator and the coverthereof fastened. Cocks 15, 16, 17, and 19 are opened, and cocks 18 and20 are closed. The several tanks are filled with water. There being nogas in the machine, the arm A depresses the stem T of the valve R. Thispermits the water from the tank P to flow into the generator,and gas isgenerated therein. This gas passes through the pipe 11 into thegas-holder A. As soon as a suflicient quantity has accumulated thereinto raise the holder A, so that the pressure of the arm A is releasedfrom the rod T, the weight U causes the valve R to assume its normalposition, (which is forming an open way between the tanks 13 and P,) andthe further flow of water into the generator is stopped until such timeas the gas is used out of the holder, so that the arm A will againoperate the valve R and permit the water to flow into the generator,when more gas will be generated, the gas-holder will rise, and the wateragain be shut off and the generation of gas stopped. It will be seenthat only a small quantity of gas is generated at a time and that itsgeneration is automatic as long as the carbid lasts. As soon as thecarbid in generator G is exhausted the water flows through by-pass 14into generator G, and gas is then generated as in generator G, which canthen be cleaned and a new charge of carbid put therein. This is done byclosing cocks 15 and 19 and opening cook 18. The cover is taken oh, thetrays taken out, the ashes removed, and generator cleaned. As soon asthe generator is dry the trays are recharged and put back and the coverfastened on and cook 15 opened,

when generator G is ready to automatically produce gas as soon as thecarbid in generator G is exhausted, which can then be cleaned in likemanner. Should it become necessary to repair valve R, cock 17 may beclosed and cook 20 opened and a sufiieient quantity of water introducedinto the generator and the supply turned elf. This has to be done by theoperator, and the amount of water turned into the generator is regulatedby his judgment. Tank 13 is provided with a pipe 21, having cook 22, bymeans of which the water is drawn out of the tank when desired. As thegas passes through pipe H moisture is collected therein, which is drawnoif through waste-pipe I.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

An acetylenegas machine, comprising a large water-tank; a gas-holdertelescoping within said tank; a small water-tank at the side of thelarge water-tank adapted to hold a predetermined quantity of water, avalve in said small water-tank having two sets of ports (one of which isclosed when the other is open) one set of ports adapted to form, withthe connecting-pipes, an open way for the passage of water from saidsmall tank into the generator at the bottom, and the other set of ports,with connecting-pipes, to form an open way for the passage of Water fromthe large, into the small Water-tank; a pipe connecting the largewater-tank with one of the ports of the said Valve; acollar having astem connected to said valve; a Weight on one end of said stem and a rodpivotally connected to the other end of said stem; an arm on the gasholder adapted to strike said rod and depress the same upon the descentof said holder below a predetermined point, and thereby open thepassage-way for the water to enter the generator; a pipe connecting oneof the ports of the said Valve with the generator at the bottom thereof;a generator, a plurality of carbid-trays divided into compartments insaid generator adapted to receive water in the compartments insuccession, commencing at the bottom of the generator; a pipe connect-LESTER R. LE LANDE.

W'Vitnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM, M. MCGINNIS.

